Designated Driver Program: A Program Evaluation

Purpose: This paper aims to understand the effectiveness of and barriers to increasing the use of the California Highway Patrol Designated Driver Program (DDP) through mass media, community outreach, and designated driver training. Method: A logic model and literature review will be used to describe the components of the DDP and to ultimately assess the effectiveness of each component targeting California residents as a whole and the segment of males ages 18-40 in specific geographical locations. Results: The literature review, descriptive findings, and depiction of the logic model will offer a portrait of the various components of a complex statewide program, including program inputs (investment of resources), outputs (activities and citizens served), and outcomes (short-, medium-, and long-term goals). The expected outcomes include increased use of designated sober drivers, higher levels of understanding of DDP attitudes, and changes in behavior that support the increased use of sober drivers; these will be examined once additional survey data is collected from the target group. Discussion: The discussion will consider what components or combination of preventative efforts work best for the designated driver program. What systems are vital to achieving the desired outcomes? Or, could it be the totality of efforts at the state level that bolster the program's success?